Environmental Consulting Fundamentals

Alter, Benjamin

doi:10.1201/9780429464379

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The benefits and potential disadvantages of compositing soils are well established with respect to analytical determination of element contents. For instance, Alter (2012) summarizes that compositing of soils (or units) saves analytical costs, but is only recommended if the discrete units are expected to have similar chemical composition. With respect to contamination, compositing soils with differing degrees of contamination may result in missing important clues regarding site contamination (Alter, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, Alter (2012) summarizes that compositing of soils (or units) saves analytical costs, but is only recommended if the discrete units are expected to have similar chemical composition. With respect to contamination, compositing soils with differing degrees of contamination may result in missing important clues regarding site contamination (Alter, 2012). However, much less is known with respect to compositing soils for designed experiments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Importance of sources of variability, scales and experimental design: A case study about the effects of biochar and slurry application on soil properties in agricultural silty loam soils

Ludwig

Song

Gunina

et al. 2021

European J Soil Science

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In designed experiments, different sources of variability and an adequate scale of measurement need to be considered, but not all approaches in common usage are equally valid. In order to elucidate the importance of sources of variability and choice of scale, we conducted an experiment where the effects of biochar and slurry applications on soil properties related to soil fertility were studied for different designs: (a) for a field‐scale sampling design with either a model soil (without natural variability) as an internal control or with composited soils, (b) for a design with a focus on amendment variabilities, and (c) for three individual field‐scale designs with true field replication and a combined analysis representative of the population of loess‐derived soils. Three silty loam sites in Germany were sampled and the soil macroaggregates were crushed. For each design, six treatments (0, 0.15 and 0.30 g slurry‐N kg−1 with and without 30 g biochar kg−1) were applied before incubating the units under constant soil moisture conditions for 78 days. CO2 fluxes were monitored and soils were analysed for macroaggregate yields and associated organic carbon (C). Mixed‐effects models were used to describe the effects. For all soil properties, results for the loess sites differed with respect to significant contributions of fixed effects for at least one site, suggesting the need for a general inclusion of different sites. Analysis using a multilevel model allowed generalizations for loess soils to be made and showed that site:slurry:biochar and site:slurry interactions were not negligible for macroaggregate yields. The use of a model soil as an internal control enabled observation of variabilities other than those related to soils or amendments. Experiments incorporating natural variability in soils or amendments resulted in partially different outcomes, indicating the need to include all important sources of variability. Highlights Effects of biochar and slurry applications were studied for different designs and mixed‐effects models were used to describe the effects. Including an internal control allowed observation of, e.g., methodological and analytical variabilities. The results suggested the need for a general inclusion of different sites. Analysis using a multilevel model allowed generalizations for loess soils. The results indicated the need to include all important sources of variability.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of sources of variability, scales and experimental design: A case study about the effects of biochar and slurry application on soil properties in agricultural silty loam soils

Ludwig

Song

Gunina

et al. 2021

European J Soil Science

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Extraction of Aged Hydrocarbons from Contaminated Soil Using Plant-Oil-in-Water Emulsions Combined with Oil/Water Separation by Reusable Non-Wovens

et al. 2022

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A novel technique for the in situ removal of mineral hydrocarbons from aged brownfields is described. The approach uses emulsions of plant oil (5–10%, rapeseed) in water, which were found to extract 50–85% of mineral hydrocarbons in one leaching step from the non-saturated zone. The emulsion was allowed to travel though the ground and was pumped off from the groundwater level. Approximately 15–50% of the plant oil stayed in the soil. By flushing the area with water afterwards, that amount can be reduced to 10–30%, and in some cases to <5%. This process is only suitable for sand, not for clay. It can be a good preparation for subsequent enzymatic cleavage and microbiological degradation, as part of a multi-stage in situ treatment process. Additionally, plant oil that infiltrated into the saturated zone was used to flush mineral hydrocarbons, which could be pumped off from the groundwater level. It was further tested whether the separation of mineral oil/plant oil and water can be performed by oil-absorbing, reusable non-wovens. Residual concentrations of <2% of water in oil, and 0.3–0.7 mg/L of oil in water were found. In this work, lab trials led to field trials, where more than 500 m3 of water were sent over a pilot installation for oil/water separation using non-wovens. A slightly better separation performance than by oil separators was observed. This process has the potential to be combined with a regular oil separator to allow water purification to a level at which it can be reintroduced into the ground. The technique was tested on a brownfield in Lower Austria, a former refinery site abandoned approx. 80 years ago with a peak hydrocarbon contamination of 40,000 mg/kg of dry soil and free-floating mineral oil on the groundwater level. Since in situ techniques can be more environmentally benign and less costly than traditional remediation approaches, this novel approach holds an interesting potential, which could be proven at a technology readiness level (TRL) of 5.

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Environmental Consulting Fundamentals

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Importance of sources of variability, scales and experimental design: A case study about the effects of biochar and slurry application on soil properties in agricultural silty loam soils

Importance of sources of variability, scales and experimental design: A case study about the effects of biochar and slurry application on soil properties in agricultural silty loam soils

Extraction of Aged Hydrocarbons from Contaminated Soil Using Plant-Oil-in-Water Emulsions Combined with Oil/Water Separation by Reusable Non-Wovens

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